Deontay Wilder vs. Johann Duhaupas
Tony Calcara, Staff Writer
In a scenario closely resembling a take from the old television show The Dating Game, I’m looking at Johann Duhaupas in hopes of finding out who he is and what we need to know before the show begins. We all know what line of questioning he will face from Deontay Wilder.
Duhaupas is a 34 year old, 6’5” French Heavyweight contender–no, that’s not an oxymoron. He has two losses in 34 fights and his list of opponents isn’t exactly a who’s who in today’s Heavyweight scene. In those two losses, one in 2008 and one in March of this year, Duhaupas lost unanimous decisions.
Nicknamed “The Reptile,” perhaps Duhaupas would be better suited with a nickname of “The Chameleon” and hope to blend in to further obscurity while in the ring with a far superior opponent. He is nowhere to be found in the top 15 ranked Heavyweights of The Ring, WBA, WBO or IBF. The WBC ranks him at No. 11.
As for Wilder, these comparisons to a Mike Tyson and superlatives of “greatness” need to be placed on hold. To put it bluntly, neither of those will pass the proverbial smell test.
Distraught and disappointed, I look for Wilder to win, probably by knockout. Yet I pose this question (while shaking my head); this is who the WBC Heavyweight champion is facing?
Should Duhaupas give Wilder trouble, then I submit that this charade is even worse than I thought.
Prediction: Wilder
Omar Martinez, Photographer
Prediction: Duhaupas
Ardy Ajoste, Graphic Designer
Prediction: Wilder
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
On Saturday night, Deontay Wilder faces his second duck in a row as Johann Duhaupas steps in to attempt to shake things up in the Heavyweight division.
Most fans are pissed off with this matchup because on paper it’s such a mismatch. Wilder isn’t that much different from a lot of other fighters who take on lower-level opposition after they win a title. The problem is that this fight is on NBC in primetime and it’s really a lost opportunity to get casual fans interested in the Heavyweight division again.
It’s okay to take a showcase fight every so often, but is it really wrong to want Wilder to push himself and look for serious challenges?
David Lemieux is a good example. He won the IBF title and immediately signed up to take on the scariest guy in boxing. Win, lose or draw, THAT type of attitude will make you fan favorite.
For Wilder, even if he scores a first-round knockout, it won’t quell the bellyaching of fight fans. What will is what lies on the horizon–a fight against Povetkin. Wilder has skills, let’s just hope we get to see him show them against a top-level opponent like he did earlier this year.
Prediction: Wilder
